The   Eastern   Partnership   (EaP)   launched   in   2009   was crafted   with   the   goal   of   fostering   stability,   security and   prosperity   in   the   post-Soviet   space   of   Eastern Europe.   Despite   the   EU’s   efforts   and   engagement,   the eastern      vicinity      has      gradually      turned      into      a vulnerable    region,    further    affected    by    the    regional turmoil   ignited   by   the   Ukrainian   crisis.   Against   this backdrop,    Romania’s    role    in    securitizing    the    EU’s eastern    vicinity    appears    more    relevant    than    ever before.   In   spite   of   its   strategic   geographic   proximity to   the   EU’s   eastern   vicinity,   Romania’s   role   in   the   EaP has    been    so    far    rather    limited.    The    present    study inquires   whether   Romania   could   play   a   much   more active   role   in   its   immediate   neighbourhood   (namely, towards   Moldova   and   Ukraine)   and,   thus,   contribute to   strengthening   the   regional   stability   and   security. The   main   argument   of   this   study   is   that   Romania   has the   capacity   to   deploy   a   much   more   salient   role   in   its immediate    neighbourhood,    which,    in    turn,    could bring     about     increased     securitization,     provided     it articulates   a   stronger   foreign   policy   strategy,   better equipped   to   deliver   answers   to   the   regional   turmoil. In   order   to   answer   the   research   question,   the   current project   seeks,   first,   to   investigate   whether   Romania   is able   to   act   as   a   stability   and   security   provider   in   its immediate   neighbourhood   and,   second,   to   provide solid   analyses   on   how   Romania   could   strengthen   its visibility in the region. Main objective The   objective   of   the   RoSec   project   consists,   first,   in examining     the     contribution     Romania     has     as     a stability      and      security      provider      in      its      eastern neighbourhood     (namely,     in     the     regional     triangle formed   together   with   Ukraine   and   Moldova).   Second, RoSec   provides   aims   at   providing   solid   analyses   on how    Romania    could    strengthen    its    visibility    as    an important regional actor in the neighbourhood. Expected results The project results will be quantified in research: 1.   Two   databases   corresponding   to   the   survey   results from    Moldova    and    Ukraine    aimed    at    investigating perceptions   at   the   level   of   the   society   and   the   expert community; 2.    Two    articles    submitted    to    international    peer- reviewed journals; 3.   Two   policy-recommendation   reports   (for   Moldova and Ukraine, respectively); 4.     Final     research     report     centralizing     our     main findings. And in communication & dissemination deliverables: 1.   Three   workshops   organised   in   Moldova,   Ukraine and Romania; 2. Two international conferences attended; 3. Project website; 4.   Printed   brochures   in   both   Romanian   and   English   of the final research report). Project coordinator This project is coordinated by Teodor Lucian MOGA, assistant professor in the foreign affairs & security issues at Centre for European Studies

This projectd is supported by a grant of Ministery of Research and Innovation, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0073, within PNCDI III